Managing the rollercoaster of emotions in early motherhood can feel like a daunting task. There is so much adjustment, learning and surrender that is required and often very little support available to navigate the massive changes that this phase brings.
Yet emotions act like a gauge, keeping us aware of what works, what doesn’t, where our needs are met and where they aren’t. Tuning in to the emotions that arise and learning to work with them, can allow new mothers to regain a sense of control and keep overwhelm at bay.
Beware of the positivity trap
Did you know that our emotional system works in the same way as our immune system? It allows in what is nourishing and keeps out what is not. Our emotions directly impact our nervous system and making sure that they move through as needed is key to staying mentally and physically healthy.
In the realm of holistic mind/body connection, cultivating positive emotions such as compassion, mindfulness, gratitude, is often the place we’re told to start. However, I’ve noticed with my clients, time and again, that they often can’t easily access these until they start addressing the backlog of repressed emotions which haven’t yet made their way out of their system.
“Suppressing emotions takes a great amount of energy and limits access to joy as
well.” Tami Lynn Kent
In our culture, we tend to overemphasise keeping stress under check and staying
calm at all costs, even though it means repressing healthy emotional response as a
result.
Tears help us process grief and sadness. Healthy anger used as a boundary defence
helps us protect what is precious in our life, the things that matter.
Practicing healthy emotional release as a new mother
So, what can you do to support your nervous system, your mind and your heart to thrive as a new mum?
Practice healthy emotional release. Here are some ways you can do it, and by the same token, support your overall health and wellbeing.
- Put words on what you’re feeling: speak it out loud or write it down. Try not to get stuck in replaying the event in your mind. Instead, focus on identifying the emotions behind the event that triggered you. If you can, follow the sensations in your body as you describe what you’re feeling.
- Get your needs met: an unmet need will often trigger anger and resentment. We live in a world where motherhood is unfortunately not valued and supported adequately. As unfair and disheartening as it is, if we can tune into ourselves enough to identify our needs (for rest, for support, for recognition, etc.) and voice them, we can feel empowered again as we get them met. Every time you feel overwhelmed by frustration, anger, sadness, ask yourself: “what is it that I need right now?”.
- Try therapy or coaching: it can be beneficial if you’re not comfortable accessing your emotions or body sensations on your own or it there’s a history of trauma. It is especially helpful if you’re struggling to identify your needs or ask for help.
- Consider body work: suppressed emotions get trapped in the body. Holistic therapies such as osteopathy, chiropractic, yoga, acupuncture, can help release emotional blockages and support a healthy immune system.
- Use this journaling prompt: where in your life are you not saying no? A great way to gain insights into the areas where you may need to set stronger boundaries in order to address stuck emotions.
And remember the 90-second cycle! According to neuroscience, it takes 90 seconds for the chemicals released by an emotion to flush out of the body. Train your attention so that you don’t get hooked by the thoughts that keep you stuck in the emotion, but instead notice it, breathe through it and watch it move out. This short video by Dr Joan Rosenberg explains this process and I also highly recommend her
book here as a resource to support you.
If you’re keen to stay in shape mentally and emotionally, if you’re going through challenging times and need support to regain clarity, build your confidence and sense of empowerment as a new mother, please reach out. I offer introductory sessions to get to know each other before diving deeper. More about my work here.
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Danielle Brooker, Joy Activation Coach
Danielle Brooker is a Mama, Joy Activation Coach, writer, avid self-help reader, lover of travel, adventure and exceptional coffee. Through her private coaching programs, digital courses, Mama Joy Summit, writing and podcast, Danielle teaches ambitious, busy and always-on Mamas ‘in the thick of it’ to move from the mess to the magic of this season of life.
Her signature program BEYOND focuses on the ‘forgotten season’ of motherhood, teaching Mamas to put core foundations in place to support their thriving well beyond the traditional ‘postpartum’ period. Danielle works intuitively, blending a foundation in human behaviour, neuroplasticity-based coaching and strategy, with somatic principles, emotional context work and soul practices. She shares, “I moved across the world to a new city, 6 months pregnant, in the middle of a global pandemic. All to take action towards my dreams. It was tough. And it was rewarding. I birthed my baby at home, with my partner holding me, literally.
Entering motherhood was everything and nothing like I imagined. It’s pushed me beyond any emotional capacity I’ve ever been asked to experience. I’ve been on my knees sobbing on the bathroom floor not believing I could get up again. And I’ve been bursting with so much joy I thought my cheeks would explode.
Motherhood is one of the most courageous acts. I’m here to take your hand and show you back to your place of safety and strength, so you can fully expand into this season of life. So you can live your most joyful life and feel your most vibrant self.”
She’s the author of Freedom from Busy and has written for and been featured in publications such as Forbes.com and Breathe and is on a mission for Mamas to reclaim this powerful season of life and live in their fullness. Danielle currently lives in Sydney with her daughter and partner, dreaming up the next adventure for their family.
Beattie Street Health Studio
Beattie Street Health Studio – Holistic Care for Mothers & Families
At Beattie Street Health Studio, we understand that motherhood is one of life’s most profound transitions — and it’s not something you’re meant to navigate alone. Our studio in Balmain is a warm, light-filled space designed to support women and families through every stage of the journey: from pre-conception, pregnancy and birth preparation, to the intensity of early postpartum and beyond.
Founded by Dr Melinda Webb, Chinese medicine doctor, Dr Joe Dispenza practitioner, and breathwork practitioner, Beattie Street Health brings together a team of experienced, multidisciplinary practitioners who share a passion for nurturing both body and mind. With a focus on continuity of care, we create a safe environment where mothers feel held, heard, and supported to restore balance in their physical health, emotional wellbeing, and energy.
Services include:
Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine — to ease morning sickness, support fertility, prepare for labour, and aid recovery postpartum.
Remedial & Pregnancy Massage — relieving tension, improving circulation, and providing therapeutic support tailored to each stage.
Naturopathy & Nutrition — addressing root causes, building energy, and supporting the body’s natural healing processes.
Breathwork & Meditation — simple, powerful tools to calm the nervous system, reset, and build resilience for the demands of parenthood.
Hypnotherapy & Wellness Coaching — supporting emotional recalibration and empowering mothers to move through challenges with confidence.
For families, we also offer care that extends beyond the mother, recognising that partners, babies, and older children are part of the wellbeing picture too. Whether it’s help with sleep, emotional regulation, recovery from birth, or just a space to pause and recharge, our team is here to meet you where you are.
At Beattie Street Health Studio, we believe that mothers deserve more. They deserve compassionate, practical, and holistic care.
Melbourne Postpartum Services
Hello, we are Melissa and Rachael, the sisters behind Melbourne Postpartum Services (MPS)—a small, dedicated team of postpartum professionals and doulas. With backgrounds in neuroprotective developmental care (NDC), nursing, social work, psychology, and postpartum education, we’ve combined our personal and professional expertise to create a nurturing haven for mothers and families across Melbourne’s eastern, south-eastern, outer eastern, and north-eastern suburbs.
At MPS, we believe the postpartum period should be a time of deep connection, rest, and joy—not one of exhaustion and overwhelm. That’s why we provide premium, evidence-based in-home support tailored to your unique needs. From breastfeeding guidance and settling strategies to newborn education and emotional recovery, our care meets you exactly where you are.
Our approach blends hands-on help with compassionate listening. Perhaps you’d like a nourishing meal prepared, laundry folded, or the chance to rest while we care for your baby. Maybe you need space to process your birth story, talk through your emotions, or receive expert feeding support. Whatever matters most to you in that moment, we’re there to lighten your load and help you feel truly supported.
You stay in control of your care with our “Personalisation Menu,” which offers options such as practical household help, baby care, confidence-building conversations, and newborn education. Each visit is designed to reduce stress, nourish your body, and boost your confidence—helping you not just to survive, but to genuinely enjoy this precious season.
When you invite us into your home, you’re not just hiring a service; you’re welcoming trusted allies who deeply understand the postpartum journey. Our mission is to elevate your experience so that, rather than simply getting through it, you can dare to love and truly enjoy your postpartum story.
Book your free initial consultation today—we’d love to walk alongside you and co-create a postpartum filled with nourishment, support, and confidence.
Learn about the support you didn't know you needed.
We have cherry picked the most useful resources for your fourth trimester so that you don't have to waste precious hours searching.
Article - Louise Barton & Elisha Wildblood (Not Another Onesie)
Why Motherhood Feels So Hard
Dear Mama, We see you. We see the way you pour yourself into motherhood, the way you carry the weight of the world while still showing up with love and strength, even when you feel like a shadow of yourself. As a society, we sit here adding to the pressure, adding to the load and, let's be brutally honest - failing you miserably every step of the way. We owe you an apology.
Watch - Elisha Wildblood and Louise Barton (Not Another Onesie)
In Conversation With Dr Renee White from Fill Your Cup
Untethered: the raw truth of identity shift in motherhood.
Article - Jackie Gorman (Nurture By Touch)
Jamu Postnatal Massage: The Nurturing Tradition Every New Mother Should Experience For Deep Recovery
This is truly special to witness; it's a real privilege. As I’m within the sanctuary of the family's home for up to 4 weeks, you subtly and gratefully become part of the furniture, quietly and respectfully. So as the days pass through this ancient lineage of care, you see things shift physically, which is pure biology to me, but also her smile changes as you walk through the door, her eyes are more vibrant and her skin colour changes
Article - Narelle Dickinson ( Lotus Health and Psychology)
Is This Normal? The Emotional Rollercoaster of Pregnancy and Motherhood.
Mental health during pregnancy and postpartum is something many mothers don’t expect to struggle with, but it's more common than we think. In this interview with Lotus Health and Psychology, we explore what perinatal mental health support really looks like, why anxiety is often overlooked, and how to take the first steps even when you feel like you’re running on empty. Whether you're expecting, newly postpartum, or years into motherhood, these insights might be the nudge you didn’t know you needed.